Quality professional helps those with disabilities

Feb. 17--Individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities are getting the opportunity to live a more independent life thanks to services provided by Melissa Richardson and her staff.

Richardson, 51, has worked as a qualified developmental disability professional with the Stevens Center for the past two years.

Richardson and her staff teach people with disabilities various life skills, giving them the confidence to succeed in the community.

Richardson took time Friday to answer questions about her job as a qualified developmental disability professional.

Did you need any special training to become a qualified developmental disability professional?

In addition to my four-year psychology degree, I had to have two years of experience working hands-on with folks with disabilities.

What types of disabilities do the people you work with have?

We provide services for those with IDD, which means intellectual and developmental disabilities. ... The developmental part means it occurred before they were adults. It could be folks with Down (syndrome), or some other type of intellectual disability, and all of these come with a range of physical problems usually, which inhibits their abilities. We have a significant number of people with cerebral palsy. In those cases, their needs are primarily physical, and we're just helping them to live as full a life as possible with their physical limitations. Autism is also quite heavily represented in our population.

How do you evaluate and work on the needs of your clients?

I'll write some short-range goals, and we'll go step by step on how to accomplish these goals. We communicate with the families about their needs and the individual's needs. Then I'll provide proper staffing to help satisfy any of those needs. The first thing we want to do is make sure they can meet their personal care needs. We want to teach them as much independence as they're capable of in those areas. Often we start the day in their home, helping with their morning routine. As adults, we all have in-home tasks we do every day, so we help them with cooking chores, doing laundry, anything that can help them become as self-sufficient as possible. Then we go out into the community, and that's where the fun starts. A lot of them volunteer at a variety of places and develop significant relationships with these places. They also do shopping with support of our staff. We also provide social activities. We have bowling groups and all kinds of things they wouldn't typically get the opportunity to experience if they're relying solely on their families to be able to juggle life. It allows them to have that full life and full experience.

What sort of growth do you look for in your clients?

Just an increased ability to participate in self-direction is what we're looking for. Whenever we have our meetings to discuss their next year, or next few months, I love seeing them be present and actively participating.

How often do your clients work with a qualified professional?

That really depends on each of the individual's needs. I have individuals who get 84 hours of support a week, which is 12 hours a day, seven days a week. And I have people who just get four or five hours, five days a week, or even less.

What is your favorite part of the job?

My favorite part is when I run into people that we serve in the community, and I can see for myself just how well they're doing and how far they've come.

What is the toughest part?

The biggest challenge is providing the right staff member for each person. It's not just that I'm looking for someone with an available schedule, I need to make a match of the staff member's skills, the personality of the person we're supporting, and the staff member's personality. A lot goes into finding a true, perfect match.

What is your goal as a QDDP?

My goal is to help folks with disabilities to be a respected and valued part of the community. I want them to truly understand their value.

Is there anything you've learned from those you've worked with?

A lot of our folks are happy. It reminds us to be happy ourselves. Just like everyone else, they have days where they're angry, frustrated or sad, but they also show uninhabited joy and unconditional love, and that's always something that's good to be reminded of.

Reach Photographer/Reporter Jay O'Connor at 919-718-1226.

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